Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Sons of Anarchy is today, what Orange County Choppers was yesterday. Where at one time every retailer was selling hats, shirts, hoodies, mousepads, baby bibs, and bikini underwear with "OCC" on it, they're now selling the same stuff with "SOA" on it.

Do people actually have the gonads to wear that stuff in public?

So at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, CA last weekend, the most-busiest place at the Harley-Davidson exhibit was where they had the blacked-out Dyna, with the quarter fairing and drag bars...

Notice behind the bike is a television set playing an episode of Sons of Anarchy. What's hard to see are the display boards explaining all the customization that went into these bikes, just in case you want to build your own.

You had to stand in line to sit on this bike.

I don't know if Harley plans to issue a new Sons of Anarchy edition motorcycle. Maybe they can give it a model number "FXRSOA". But it seems like they'll sell a lot of them.

Interesting comparison of the SOA mania to OCC's now-faded glory. I have to say that I like Son's much better than I ever liked OCC, but I know it's not exactly a fair comparison.

As far as the bike goes, I said it from day one and I haven't changed my mind: I DON'T like the cafe fairing. Not even a little bit. In the show, when you see the Son's rival m/c the Mayans, at least they are riding normal looking Harleys - many of them with high apes on them. I just can't picture actual outlaw bikers riding around on bikes with those silly looking things on them...but maybe it's a Cali thing...I don't know.

As far as wearing the gear in public goes, I'm all set myself. If it hasn't happened already, eventually some dude on a bike all tricked out in that poseur garb is going to get spotted by some real 1%ers...and likely get his ass beat...especially if he goes so far as to wear a cut with all the SOA patches on it. You watch too...the stupid ass will probably sue the producers of the show over it and win.

you guys ragging on dynas dont know your history..look at old pics of 1%er mc's..the majority are riding dynas..they are fast,manuverable, and easy to work on..guarantee you their ass would be beat if they tooled up on a heritage softail

I re-read everything here and I don't see anyone "ragging on dynas." I said I don't like the Cafe fairings...and I don't. I never said I didn't like the Dyna model motorcycle. A Dyna was the first H-D I ever rode in fact, and I like them just fine. I just prefer to ride a Softail.

As far as 1% clubs banning Softails and baggers, I don't know where you get that from. Years ago those guys were riding Shovels and Sportsters. Seems like you don't know much about either history or the present. Here's a piece on the Bandidos m/c:

Oh, btw...the Dyna, Softail and Touring models all have the same motor, with the exception of the Screamin' Eagle customs. So I don't know how that makes the Dyna any "easier" to work on than the other models.

Need some info. I have seen a bike that looks like a Harley sportster but the title says it's a Roke, Model 416. The bike has a Harley Davidson Sticker on it and it also shows that it is an MC 1. What is it??? Thanks for any help------and what is it worth?? Answer to theweeklys@yahoo.com.

SOA is a TV show like The Munsters and Dukes of Hazard. OCC was a reality show about real people living the life. The producers have jumped on the bandwagon and made The Sopranos formula for a biker theme. Their research decided to have Jax ride a Dyna with a fairing, period! It has nothing to do with real people or what real people ride. Obviously Jax appeals to a younger market and the cafe look appeals to younger riders. Anyone with brains would rather ride a bagger for comfort but it's all about the producers, the market etc. As for fans wearing cuts of SOA, it is probably a bad idea to pose like you are in an m/c when you're not, but posing has been going on for thousands of years.Get over it :)

joker... softails, dynas, and touring bikes do not all have the same motor. twincam A's and twin cam B's. b's are in the softails. it stands for balanced. two 4lb weights counter act the rotation of the flywheels. thats why they seem like a smoother running motor and are ridged mounted to the chassy. -A- motors like in the dyna and touring family. dont have counter balancers and are rubber mounted. less moving parts and therfore "easier to work on." plus those counter balancers acount for about a 5 horsepower loss. not alot, but noticed.

go to youtube look up Hells Angels funeral procession and see how many Ness or HD quarter fairings you see go by. SOA based the style of bikes on the Frisco and Oakland HA chapters overall style. They havw been riding that style since the first fxrs in early 80's. Back when everyone said fxrs were rubs and ugly you could find HA's blasting down the road on them with Ness fairings

Sonny Barger himself, in 1 of his books, said that the FXR was the best bike he ever rode. Best handling in traffic w/a 28 degree rake, longer travel suspension than a softail etc. Now he rides a R-King. He also said you'll never find o pic of him on a long front ended chopper. BTW, the T-C A engine also revs alot higher than the B engine. I turn my '04 FXDL to 7k frequently (vs 5500 for the TC-B), making 106 HP on pump gas. From 95".

BTW....W/a stop @ a fabric store, and little bondo, the "Bikini Fairing" can hide a few goodies inside ;)....I had 1 on my sporty. Helped only a tiny, tiny bit from catching wind directly on your chest @ hi speed and long distance. If you're doing distances, might help w/fatigue?? BTW..I see a few guys from 81 sporting them here on the East Coast.-Hutch1200

Man you folks got too much time to argue. Go ride. It's all preference. I'm thinking a cafe fairing so I don't push so much wind with my brain bucket. Ummm Dynas vs Softail...Soft tail rides smoother and Dynas will save your life handling an emergency. Motors are the same.

Ok just so everyone knows the first FXR was built in 1981 this came with the shovel then around 1986 switch to the EVO this was built until 1994. Then again in 1999 & part of 2000 Harley ran the FXR again. These were the only years an FXR was built there were six models of the FXR offer all together over the years of production. Oh and there is not a FXR on SOA thank God.

The dyna motor is not the same as a softtail motor softail motor has a counter balance dyna is rubber mounted thus in the frame it rocks on a dyna. And sits still in a softtail. It is all preference I'll stay with my "blockhead" evo in my 94 fxrp and continue to out corner, maneuver, flat out out handle any dyna and strait smoke dynas all day in straight lines :)

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A vagabond who hauls a motorcycle around the country in a toy hauler, earning a living as a website developer. Can often be found where there's free Wi-Fi, craft beer, and/or public nudity. (Read more...)